For more than 500 years, Piazza Santa Croce has hosted a famously violent football game. Stretching out in front of the impressive façade of the Basilica of Santa Croce, the piazza is surrounded by some of the city’s most elegant palazzos.
Every year in June, the city’s four neighborhoods send a team of delegates to participate in the Calcio Fiorentino, where a game of soccer is played, with boxing and wrestling moves allowed. The rest of the year, come to the piazza after nightfall to mingle with young people from all over the world, drinking wine on steps and on the terraces.
Visit Piazza Santa Croce first during the day, the better to appreciate the architectural masterwork on display. Marvel at the basilica and peek inside to see the tombs of some of history’s most famous Italians, from Galileo to Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Marconi. Pay respects to the marble statue of Dante that stands right outside.
Duck down to the right for a visit to Brunelleschi’s Pazzi Chapel. Stroll along the façade of the Palazzo dell’Antella, with its elaborate frescoes of allegorical figures and a bust of Cosimo de’ Medici.
Admire the architecture of the Palazzo Cocchi-Serristori and cool down near the flowing water of the fountain outside. As the sun goes down, join Florentines and tourists for aperitivo in the bars along the square. Otherwise, do as the locals do and purchase a picnic and bottle of wine from nearby stores and set up on the benches, enjoying the atmosphere.
Piazza Santa Croce is located on the eastern side of Florence’s Old Town, a 10-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio or Piazza del Duomo. Walk or take the bus from Florence’s main train station in about 20 minutes or take a taxi in 15 minutes. Parking is very limited in the area, but there are a few metered garages within walking distance. The piazza is freely accessible, and most of the restaurants and bars stay open late into the night.
